Cork tie knot with Leicester - January 25,
2001
Cork City formally tied the knot with Leicester City and local schoolboy club Mayfield United last night. The five-year deal will see the English Premier club pump more than £250,000 into youth development programmes at the two Irish clubs and Cork City's School of Excellence.
The agreement will also see young Leicester players farmed out to Cork on loan, while the English club will have first option on Cork City and Mayfield players who move to England.
Announcing the details, Cork chairman Terry Dunne said: "This deal is hugely significant to Cork City and will allow us to accelerate our plans for the development of the club.
"It is inevitable some players will want to play in England and the reality of the situation is that if they are good enough they will go whether we want them to or not. This deal ensures that such players have the option of moving to a club that can offer them the very best opportunity for career and personal development."